The Best Music of 1994

1. Various Artists, Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool (GRP). The goal: to raise money for the fight against AIDS. The high concept: to match some of the most | exciting performers in hip-hop (the bands Digable Planets and Us3, bassist- rapper Me'Shell NdegeOcello and others) with some of the finest performers in jazz (including saxophonist Joshua Redman, trumpeter Donald Byrd and keyboardist Herbie Hancock) and create a benefit CD of jazz-rap songs. The result: a landmark album that brilliantly harnesses the fire of rap and the cool of jazz, transcending genres and generations.